Translation and historicity of the book of abraham. The joseph smith hypocephalus was a papyrus fragment, part of a larger collection of papyri. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies center. Through the years, whenever the book of abraham was printed there were included with the printed text three drawings, each designated as. Ancient egyptian documents from thebes show that the name abraham can be plausibly connected with hypocephali inasmuch as abraham is called the pupil of the wedjateye in one. For all of these, not having the hieroglyphic vorlage, we enjoy broad scope for speculation. Michael marquardt, it seems clear that smith had the bible open to genesis as he dictated this section i. A careful study of the book of abraham provides a better measure of the books merits than any hypothesis that treats the text as a conventional translation.
Smith explained the similarities by reasoning that when moses penned genesis, he used the book of abraham as a guide, abridging. In the book of abraham also we are told that the plan of the cosmos, represented by facsimile no. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. Latterday saints learn about the ancient prophet abraham in two placesthe old testament genesis account in the king james version of the bible, and the pearl of great price account found in the book of abraham. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. Labeled as facsimiles 1 through 3, smith claimed they too.
Facsimile 3 page 2 book of abraham mormon dialogue. By david bokovoy, january 19, 2006 in book of abrahamdavid bokovoy, january 19, 2006 in book of abraham. It was released by the church to help explain how it can be possible that joseph smiths translation of the book of abraham does not match what we now know egyptian to mean, and how it can still be the word of god when even the church itself admits in this essay that the. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. The following is a sidebyside comparison of what joseph smith translated in facsimile 2 versus what it actually says according to egyptologists and modern egyptology. The illustration represented by facsimile 2 is a hypocephalus, a disc made of linen, papyrus, or bronze, covered with inscriptions and images which relate to one of the last spells in the book of the dead. Facsimile 2 posted on april 12, 2015 november 26, 2015 by wes trexler facsimile 2 is actually a representation of a hypocephalus. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit.
The book of abraham likewise presents names purporting to be egyptian. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3. The book, first published in 1842 and then canonized as. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. The book of abraham is an 1835 work produced by latter day saints lds movement founder joseph smith that he claimed were translated from egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. Abrahams teaching astronomy to egyptians book of abraham facsimile 3 is described in pseudoeupolemus 9. The book of abraham cosmology is so ambiguous that not even lds people, let alone critics of the church, can claim to know what it is actually trying to say. The book of abraham is a book of lds scripture that joseph smith translated from a collection of ancient egyptian papyri the church purchased.
Why didnt joseph correctly identify the names isis and maat for figures 2 and 4 in facsimile 3. Allowing the deceased to pass through the underworld. The book of abraham has been considered scripture by members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church since 1880. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct. Smith who had claimed to have translated the book of mormon from golden plates that had been inscribed with reformed. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect.
According to smith, the book comprised ancient records. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. Joseph smiths notes to facsimile 2 identify it as representing god sitting in the heavens. Book of abraham part 2 new egyptologists back smith. The original of facsimile 1 of the book of abraham is found at the beginning of the hor book of breathings papyrus, and the hieroglyphic writing on it associates the figure on the couch figure 1 with hor, the owner of the papyrus, who is portrayed as being. Remember, joseph smith said this is heavenly father revealing the grand key words of the priesthood, with the sign of the holy ghost in the form of a dove. Latter day saints, dictated what he claimed was a translation of an ancient egyptian papyrus containing the writings of abraham. This is a remarkable statement in view of the fact that nonmormon egyptologists who have commented on joseph smiths interpretation of the facsimiles uniformly agree. He included copies of 3 vignettes found among the papyri and his interpretations of them. While the other two facsimiles printed with the book of abraham have connections, more or less, with the narrative events of the text facsimile no. F or many mormons, an examination of the book of abraham and its true history becomes the most significant stumbling block to joseph smiths claim as a prophetic translator of ancient languages. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 2. Translation and historicity of the book of abraham university of.
The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled translation and historicity of the book of abraham. One of the most disturbing facts the ces letter author. Some book of abraham editions in facsimile 2 show min without the pornography. In facsimile 2, they appear to be represent the delivering of the power, authority, and governance of god to the four quarters, lands, and peoplessymbolized by the four heads of the river eden that the book of abraham talks about. Compared with the book of moses, the book of abraham seems to more forcefully state the idea that all beings could only. Lds essay the truth of the book of abraham is ultimately found through careful study of its teachings, sincere prayer, and the confirmation of the spirit. The egyptians discovered the same ramheaded figure, at worlds morn, burning white as dawn on. In the entry on the facsimiles from the book of abraham in the encyclopedia of mormonism we are told that the prophets explanations of each of the facsimiles accord with present understanding of egyptian religious practice. Kolob in color an egyptologist looks at book of abraham. Nearly half of the book of abraham shows a dependence on the king james version of the book of genesis. Neither of the first two installments featured hieratic characters in. There is another facsimile in the book of abraham revealing additional areas of mistranslation. The book of abraham skinny frequently, when reading a discussion on the lds problem of the book of abraham, the apologists and critics beat around the bushconfusing the reader.
The evidence suggests that the book of abraham reflects concepts of joseph smiths time and place rather than those of an ancient world. The book of abraham is a work produced in 1835 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. The second installment, published under date of 15 march but actually printed on 19 march woodruff, journal, 19 mar. Facsimile 2 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Evidences of the divine authenticity of the book of abraham bonus features. Lds author paul gregersen sold his publications in deseret bookstores on the main shelf of the lds section of the book store. The book of abraham narrative clearly demonstrates the manner in which the lds church works diligently to massage or reinterpret inconvenient facts to continue to defend its most extraordinary truth. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. For instance, on a webpage previously housed at byu, a farms author avoids the most obvious question that any lds person would have regarding facsimile 2. The three facsimiles found in the book of abraham all derive from ancient egyptian papyri.
First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. As for the egyptian facsimiles published with the book of abraham see. The central figure on facsimile 2, the round hypocephalus, represents kolob, the first creation, as abraham, looking through bright gems, urim and thummim, saw in a vision of the stars. An online handbook to the lds church mormon comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Joseph smith and the lds church for over 170 years have claimed that the book of abraham is a translation of a portion of the papyri scrolls purchased by the church in 1835 kirtland, ohio, and that this portion contains the writings of abraham written by abrahams own hand. An egyptian book of the dead was a corrupted mishmash of original teachings from adam down to subsequent patriarchs, such as abraham. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 0. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. But how did the book of abraham come to be and what does it teach us. To find these four old friends at home in the apocalypse of abraham is an undeniable link between the book of abraham and the book of the dead. Section 2 section 5 section section 20 section 27 section 48 section 101 pearl of great price book of abraham facsimile 1 facsimile 2 facsimile 3 translation manuscripts king james bible the inspired version journal of discourses other scriptures. The inspiration and basis for the text of the book of abraham is p. Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based.
Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Abraham taught the egyptians and saw a vision of the creation of the earth. The book of abraham is the second book in the pearl of great. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. And a latterday joseph invites the world to give it a go. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1.
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